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MOBILE, Ala. – Nine student-athletes will be joining the 2018 University of South Alabama soccer team, head coach Richard Moodie announced Tuesday.

Added to the roster are Morgan Cross, Gracie East, Jess Garey, Ellie Kane, Brenna McPartlan, Moa Öhman, Helene Schjelderup, Ailey Tebbett and Faith Webber.

The new group brings the 2018 signing class up to 13.

Morgan Cross - Forward
Inverkeithing High School
Dunfermline, Scotland
Played two seasons at Inverkeithing, where she won the Liam Elliot Memorial Cup for outstanding contribution to school through sport and played for Scottish Schools in a home nations tournament… Four-year member of Central Girls Football Academy… Played on U15, U17 and Scottish Women's Football League First Division league champions, and U15 Scottish and League Cup, 2017 Disney Cup and ACES UK U16 and U17 title winners… Named by the players as the player of the year as the team's top goal scorer in 2017… Played for Scotland's U15, U16 and U17 national teams… Recorded a hat trick vs. Croatia.

Moodie on Cross: "Morgan is a top prospect coming out of Scotland who was offered to stay in the national training center, which is the highest level of training for an individual in Scotland. She comes from a family with a wealth of high-level soccer in their background; her uncle is a famous footballer in Scotland. She's a clinical finisher and she's young, but if she can adapt to the game quickly, she's what we would call a 'fox in the box.' She's good for at least a goal a game, and as we lose Rio Hardy, that's something we need to pick up."

Gracie East – Defender
Faith Academy/Mississippi State
Mobile, Ala.
Played in 15 games with two starts and scored two goals for Mississippi State last season… Both goals came in 6-2 win over Colgate… Earned all-state honors at Faith Academy… Led team to 5A area titles in 2012-17… Named Coastal Player of the Year by AL.com and was named to all-county team in 2013, 2015 and 2016… Participated in Battle of the Bay all-star game from 2014-16 and named MVP in 2015… Ended career holding school records for most career goals and minutes played… Played for Gulf Coast United Futbol Club from 2014-17… Team won state titles in 2015 and 2016, and reached final in 2014 and 2017.

Moodie on East: "Gracie featured in all of our spring contests and did fantastically. She is a player that can help strengthen our squad. We have a lot of depth at the fullback position, so it will be interesting to see if the youth can challenge her. Picking up a transfer unexpectedly was great for us. On the field, she's added a lot of positivity."

Jess Garey – Forward
Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State
Miramar Beach, Fla.
Scored 34 goals with 24 assists as a senior… Earned all-state honors… Led the Raiders to a 6-0 record and the fewest goals allowed in district play… District player of the year.

Moodie on Garey: "Jess was actually pointed in our direction by a former South Alabama player in Emily Farrell. She's a goal scorer and was very good at the high school level. There's not a lot of pressure on her because we found her late in the recruiting process. If she can come in and compete and contribute, that will be a pleasant surprise for us. She's a very good addition to the team."

Ellie Kane – Midfielder
St. Modan's High School
Stirling, Scotland
Captained Central Girls Football Academy in Falkirk… Played six seasons and was twice named player of the year… Led club to Scottish, League, Disney International and Nottingham Cup championships… Also won ACES Tournament.

Moodie on Kane: "Ellie is another Scottish girl involved in the international setup there. She's a fantastic individual but a great player as well. She does all the dirty work in the middle of the park – when we lost Danielle Henley, Chelsea Followwell and Tiina Trutsi, we needed to add someone that was willing to come in, go box-to-box and do the nitty-gritty work, and Ellie will do just that. She captains her club in the Scottish Women's Premier League and her Scotland team; she had the qualities to lead her team into war. She's a true soccer player. She can play any position, but we see her as that midfield general and engine in the middle of the field."

Brenna McPartlan – Midfielder
St. Bede's High School
Lancashire, England
Participated in soccer, netball, field hockey, track & field, swimming and badminton at St. Bede's High School and Accrington and Rossendale College… Played for three national championship teams in soccer… Team captain for Manchester City U19s… Led squad to 2017-18 league and FA Cup titles… Represented Northern Ireland's U19 team six times.

Moodie on McPartlan: "Brenna was a late but important signing for us and will have a positive impact on the squad. Although a versatile player, we will look to utilize her in the middle of the park. Coming from a top level of soccer in Europe, she brings a high level of intensity and competitiveness to the squad."

Moa Öhman – Forward
Hedgårdsvägen 13
Kalix, Sweden
Played four seasons for Assi IF club team… Team finished second in Norrbotten championship and won promotion via playoff game… Made eight league appearances in 2018 season, scoring one goal… Saw action in 21 games the season prior and recorded four goals.

Moodie on Öhman: "She's a No. 9 or No. 10 for us – a goal scorer that plays in the highest level in Sweden. When we were looking at Cross, Moa and Brianna Mascia, we were hoping to get another 20-goal scorer, but if we can divide it up amongst three new players, that would be good too. Moa is someone with a wealth of knowledge, and since she's a little older, a more mature soccer player and someone that can add experience. She's creative and a playmaker, and keeps you on the edge of your seat when you watch her play."

Helene Schjelderup – Midfielder
Dragonskolans Elitidrottsgymnasium (Umeå, Sweden)
Bodø, Norway
Led Dragonskolans to national school championships in 2016 and 2017… Played 2 ½ seasons for Umeå IK club team… Umeå has qualified for the national U20 championship three consecutive seasons… Won silver medal in 2015 and 2017, and bronze in 2016.

Moodie on Schjelderup: Helene has been capped for the Norwegian national team but plays her soccer in Sweden, and is a young lady that travels looking to challenge herself at the best level. She's another center midfielder, which gives us four, so that gives us options. We've built a system around playing with three in the middle, whatever that looks like. She's very good in set pieces, and when a game is tied going down to the wire, she's someone that can produce the goods.

Ailey Tebbett – Goalkeeper
Oak Hall School/University of Florida
Gainesville, Fla.
Transferring from the University of Florida, where she spent the 2017 season but did not appear in a game… Will have four years of eligibility remaining… Played six seasons at Oak Hall School, where she set the school record for career saves (1,075)… Credited with 175 saves and 10 shutouts as a senior… Named to the Gainesville Sun all-Area First Team in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, and honorable mention in 2012… Four-year member of Florida Elite Soccer Academy club team in Jacksonville, Fla. … Won 2013 Disney Tournament, and reached state semifinals in 2017… Named to 2014 Florida ODP state player pool.

Moodie on Tebbett: "Ailey is going to give us four goalkeepers on the roster, but we've had a hard time with injuries in that department, so we had to take this move into consideration. She is coming from a great footballing background. She took this opportunity knowing that she was going to challenge for the No. 1 spot and we offered it to her just like that. She's someone who is eager to come in and work hard. She's someone that can come in and challenge the group, so we're really excited about her. With all three goalkeepers graduating at the same time, it helps stagger that position."

Faith Webber – Forward
Homeschooled
San Angelo, Texas
Played one season for Sting ECNL 00 in Plano, Texas… Sting attained No. 1 national ranking for all '00 teams... Selected for ODP in 2015.

Moodie on Webber: "Faith came into camp two or three times and really impressed us. As we graduate our seniors, she's someone that will be able to come in to that front line and help out. She's very physical, energetic and eager to please. She checks a lot of boxes for us because she's always trying to maximize her potential. The sky is the limit for this young lady. The environment here is going to challenge her and allow her to flourish as a player."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Upper 90 Club, the soccer specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All gifts to the Upper 90 Club go directly to support the South Alabama soccer program. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/upper90

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